Are you tired of seeing headlines
tossed around like “technology tears families apart,” “as tech time increases,
family time decreases,” and “fractures in family life blamed on technology”? I
know I am! It seems that a lot of the societal ills and problems that we’re
facing today automatically get blamed on technology. And I suppose there is a
good reason for this. A lot of technological devices and gadgets that we use
are what I like to call “solitary devices.” That means they encourage more
“alone time” because the very nature of the device is that we use them without
the aid of others. But I’m here to tell you that not all technology is like
this. There is a range of technology that can be used to enhance and even
initiate, social interactions.
Here’s a list of five of my favourite gadgets that
bring families together:
Tablet
Computers
Obviously, the iPad is
the big one here, but any tablet device works beautifully. What I love about
tablets is that there are a range of apps for these devices that actually make
sense to use in conjunction with others. For example, a range of classic board games such as checkers, chess, and Scrabble all translate beautifully
to tablet devices. Oh, here’s a thought! Family game night around the tablet.
And with less clean-up too!
Nintendo
Wii
Want to play tennis or
go bowling but can’t get out of the house to do it? Want to spend an evening
go-karting but don’t have a venue nearby? Want to let angry family members
whack at each other as hard as they can to release tensions? Enter the Nintendo
Wii. This baby can do it all…
GPS
Tracking Devices
This one is simple.
Parents love knowing where their children are. The peace of mind is amazing.
Kids love being able to get where they’re going without getting lost. Parents
love that children get to where they’re going without getting lost. It’s
a win-win!
Smartphones
with Video Capability
Away from family on a
business trip for a long time? Take videos with your smartphone to share
experiences with family when you return. Miss the spouse, the kids, or even
granny and auntie Em? Use your video capable smartphone to place a video call and see the faces of loved ones any time
you want.
Camcorders
Yep, now you can share
your memories with your family for generations and you can create memories for
them as well. It’s a simple idea really. Just wait until ten or twenty years
from now and you or your child pulls out these videos…
Obviously there are a
lot of reasons that technology can limit family “togetherness.” But it doesn’t
have to be that way. This list is a wonderful example of just a few of the ways
that family time can actually be enhanced by technology. But even this is not
the limit. Be creative, think of your own ideas. I’m sure you can find tons of
creative ways to use technology to enhance your family time. Just be certain
that if you have tech devices that you use frequently, you’ve got a reliable
insurance policy such as Protect Your Bubble family gadget insurance in case an unfortunate accident befalls
your valued device!
Author Bio:
Laura Ginn
is a professional blogger who regularly writes on the topic of technology. She
loves to write about the unusual ways technology can enhance our lives that we
may not always consider.